Walter Farmer collection and Akenaton
2026-05-30 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | NJ
Dr. Jack Green (Associate Director of Collections and Curatorial Affairs, Washington and Lee University) will present a lecture entitled “Tell es-Sa’idiyeah Cemetery (Jordan) and its connections to ancient Egypt and Persia.” A reception and chance to talk with the speaker will be held afterwards.

Accessing Abydos: Excavating Bricks and Archives for Answers About Early Kingship
2026-06-14 15:00 (America/New_York) | Redwood City Woman’s Club, 149 Clinton Street, Redwood City, CA, 94062, United States
About the Lecture:
The site of Abydos is critical for understanding the rise of Egyptian kingship and the foundations of the pharaonic state. The earliest kings built their tombs far in the desert at Abydos, ringing them with sacrificial burials. But the largest monuments built by these kings were not tombs but temples, also at Abydos, and also often provided with sacrificial burials. Built much closer to the floodplain and settlement site, these structures, known to archaeologists as funerary enclosures, remain somewhat enigmatic.
One such funerary enclosure still stands today, its mud-brick walls looming over the landscape some 4700 years after it was built. The standing monument is the last of the line; its predecessors are present only as foundations, no longer visible except when archaeologists clear the sand from them. Why are all earlier funerary enclosures mere stubs? Published explanations have focused on deliberate destruction, arguing that each building “died” as its king did, leaving only one standing at a time. However, recent work in the unpublished archives of the past 30 years of excavations held in New York suggest that neither the evidence nor its interpretation is nearly so straightforward.
In this talk, we will look first at the history of archaeology at the Abydos funerary enclosures and what knowledge has been produced there. We will then dive into the excavation of an archive, the work being done to bring unpublished material to light, and how this is reshaping thoughts about early kingship. In doing so, we will confront important matters not only about the ancient past, but about how archaeologists work, and how exciting it can be to confront evidence that makes us change our minds.
About the Speaker:

Dr. Laurel Bestock is the Joukowsky Family Associate Professor of Egyptology and Archaeology at Brown University, as well as a visiting professor and director of excavations at Abydos at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. A field archaeologist with longstanding interests in kingship and monumentality, she has directed projects at Abydos and at the Middle Kingdom fortress of Uronarti in the Sudan. She is part of a team that is developing Kiosk, archaeological recording software that is used by excavations around the world. Though a native Californian, Laurel left to pursue degrees in the cold way back in 1995 and has missed the West Coast ever since. In her spare time she spins yarn, and is preparing to bring her obsessions together in the classroom next semester by teaching a course on the Archaeology of Textiles.

Redwood City Woman’s Club location and parking:
This month, we’re meeting on the Peninsula, in the Redwood City Woman’s Club, two blocks off Broadway in central Redwood City. The 1911 bungalow, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, dates from the year women won the vote in California and worked in groups like this one to secure their roles in public life. The club is fully ramped and wheelchair-friendly. For users of public transit, it’s walking distance from Caltrain. Best freeway access is from Highway 101’s Whipple Avenue exit. Parking is along the street, though given advance notice, we can set up a couple of disabled spots on the north side of the building.
Useful links:
Redwood City Woman’s Club
Google map of vicinity
About Northern California ARCE:
For more information, please visit https://www.youtube.com/@NorthernCaliforniaARCE, https://www.facebook.com/NorthernCaliforniaARCE, https://arce-nc.org, https://bsky.app/profile/khentiamentiu.bsky.social, and https://khentiamentiu.org. To join the chapter or renew your membership, please go to https://arce.org/membership/ and select “Berkeley, CA” as your chapter when you sign up.

America’s First Egyptologist and the Creation of the ISAC Museum
2026-06-20 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | The Historic Longview Farm House, 13525 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO, 63141, United States
Dr. Kate Ayres (Institute for the Study of Ancient cultures at the University of Chicago) will deliver her lecture entitled “America’s First Egyptologist and the Creation of the ISAC Museum.” A reception and chance to talk with the speaker will be held afterwards.

Petra Byzantine Church
2026-07-25 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Longview Park, 13525 Clayton Road, Town and Country, MO, 63141, United States
Dr. Peter Warnock, Adjunct faculty member in Anthropology at Muskegon Community College, and board member of the St. Louis Society of the Archaeological Institute will discuss the archaeological discoveries at the Byzantine church in Petra, Jordan. A reception will be held afterwards to talk with the speaker.

Here Comes the Sun: A diachronic study on the role of music during the Amarna Period
2026-08-16 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/FcyP-FNRSbqg_kpujlRXuA
The American Research Center in Egypt, Northern California chapter, invites you to attend a Zoom lecture by Waleed el-Hawatky, The American University in Cairo:
“Here Comes the Sun: A diachronic study on the role of music during the Amarna Period”
Sunday, August 16, 2026, 3 PM PDT
This meeting is virtual, and not in person. It will be recorded.
Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/FcyP-FNRSbqg_kpujlRXuA
Image Credit: Relief of People Driving off Birds, ca. 1352–1336 B.C.E.. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 21 1/4 in. (21 x 54 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 60.197.3. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum,www.brooklynmuseum.org)
About the Lecture:
Music has played and continues to play a prominent role in the lives of individuals and in society, hardwired into the human experience and integral to our understanding of the world in both its tangible and intangible manifestations. This was no different in dynastic Egypt, where abundant iconographic and physical evidence from the Old Kingdom on shows music being performed in every context and at every level of society. Music appears not only to gain prominence during the Amarna Period but also to develop innovations, including new instrument designs and musical ensembles, all of which are well documented in the rich visual culture of the Amarna Period. This paper explores music in this era, with an emphasis on the royal court, demonstrating its increased role as compared with the first part of the 18th Dynasty with evidence garnered from representations in tombs, temples and texts, as well as physical instruments, amulets, figurines and other material objects associated with music. Through both an Egyptological and musicological approach, this study not only elucidates the function and possibly accelerated evolution of musical innovation in the Amarna Period, but also the implications of the social and gender roles observed in musical practice within the framework of the Aten ideology, perhaps even inspired directly by it.
About the Speaker:
Waleed el-Hawatky is an Egyptologist and Musicologist with an MA in Egyptology & Coptology from The American University in Cairo. Born and raised in California to Egyptian immigrants, el-Hawatky is a newcomer to Egyptology, coming from a background in genetics and public relations, bringing disciplinary versatility to his work. A composer, performer and recording artist of nearly three decades, el-Hawatky specializes in ancient Egyptian musicology, seeking new approaches to the study of ancient music in hopes of eventually constructing a comprehensive lexicon on the ancient Egyptian musical tradition, contributing to the wider study of daily life in ancient Egypt.
How to Register:
Register for the lecture by clicking on this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/FcyP-FNRSbqg_kpujlRXuA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the lecture.
There are a few things you should know before you join the lecture:
* Advance registration is required. When you click on the link to register. you will receive instructions by email on how and when to join, along with a link on which you will click to join the meeting. Save the email, as you will need the link it contains to join the meeting. Please register now. Please do not share the join link with anyone, it is unique to your email address. Try to join at least 10 minutes before the meeting. When you do join the meeting, be prepared to be put in the waiting room until the lecture starts at 3 pm. This is a security measure.
* If you haven’t already installed Zoom, you should download and install the Zoom program (app) well before you try to join the meeting. There IS an option to use your web browser to join the meeting instead of the Zoom program, but the browser interface is limited and depends greatly on what browser and what operating system you’re using.
* For tutorials on how to use Zoom, go to https://learn-zoom.us/show-me. In particular, “Joining a Zoom Meeting” should show you what you need to do to join our lecture.
* All meeting attendees can communicate with everyone, or with individual participants, using the chat window, which can be opened by clicking on the chat button and which you can probably find at the bottom middle of your Zoom viewing screen. Participants will be encouraged to hold their questions for the speaker until after the lecture, and will also be encouraged to address their questions for the speaker to everyone, not just to the speaker, so that all can see them. “Everyone” is the default chat option.
If you have any questions, please email glenn@glennmeyer.net or arcencZoom@gmail.com.
About Northern California ARCE:
For more information, please visit https://www.youtube.com/@NorthernCaliforniaARCE, https://www.facebook.com/NorthernCaliforniaARCE, https://arce-nc.org, https://bsky.app/profile/khentiamentiu.bsky.social, and https://khentiamentiu.org. To join the chapter or renew your membership, please go to https://arce.org/membership/ and select “Berkeley, CA” as your chapter when you sign up.

Current Research in Tennessee Archaeology (CRITA)
2026-09-12 09:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | NJ
AIA-Nashville Society is excited to invite you to Current Research in Tennessee Archaeology (CRITA) on September 12, 2026! Organized by the Tennessee Division of Archaeology, this special program will be held in person from 9:00-3:30 at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville, Tennessee. See details below for free parking information. With morning and afternoon talks, this free day-long showcase is open to the public, bringing together professional archaeologists, students, and the interested public to learn about recent research into Tennessee’s archaeological heritage. This event is free and does not require registration.
More info: https://bit.ly/CRITA-2026
See website above for venue information, morning and afternoon program abstracts, and associated events.
Due to the January 2026 ice storm, CRITA has been rescheduled to September 12, 2026!
Full website link: https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/arch-archaeology/current-research-in-tennessee-archaeology–crita-/2026-crita-program.html

The Mystery of the Midas Monument
2026-09-14 16:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | NJ
The Elizabeth S. Ettinghausen Lecture

Spokane Monthly Archaeology Lecture
2026-09-17 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-10-15 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W 1st Ave, Spokane, WA, 99201, United States
Join us for our monthly lectures on a variety of archaeological topics!

Religion at the Boundaries and the Archaeology of Interreligious Engagement
2026-09-21 14:00 - 20:30, 2026-09-23 17:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | NJ
Kershaw Lectures in Near East Archaeology
Time and Location TBA

Columbus Society Kershaw Lecture in Near East Archaeology with Dr. Erin Darby
2026-09-22 16:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | NJ
Kershaw Lectures in Near East Archaeology
Topic and Time TBA

SAIG 2026 Dissertation Lecture: "Remembering Collapse: Understanding Ritual at Abandoned Late Bronze Age Sites on Crete through the lens of Social Trauma Theory" with Sarah Malik Bell
2026-09-22 17:00 (America/New_York) | NJ
Please join the Student Affairs Interest Group for their annual Dissertation Lecture featuring Sarah Malik Bell, who received her PhD from Brown University in 2025, for her talk, “Remembering Collapse: Understanding Ritual at Abandoned Late Bronze Age Sites on Crete through the lens of Social Trauma Theory” on Tuesday, September 22nd at 5:00 PM ET/2:00 PM PT. The lecture will be held on Zoom – please register here.

Abstract:
This talk will discuss social trauma theory—a theory that is currently applied almost exclusively to social traumas originating in the contemporary moment—and its applicability to ancient archaeological contexts. Bell will discuss the ritual practices covered in her dissertation and map the periodic renewal of these practices against the material evidence for subsequent episodes of social change on the island of Crete. She will show that, as social trauma theory allows us to predict, embodied ritual practices became vital resources in the repeated reification of post-collapse identities during times of increased social threat on the island. She will also touch on regional variation and sociopolitical change to discuss long-term sociopolitical developments on Crete, including the development of the Cretan Poleis.

About the Speaker:
Sarah Malik Bell, PhD is Assistant Professor of Art History and Archaeology at Berea College. She received her PhD in archaeology from the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World at Brown University, specializing in the ritual visitation of abandoned sites associated with social trauma in both the ancient and the contemporary worlds. Her current research continues to focus on the material legacies of difficult heritage and the role these legacies play in healing and/or perpetuating past trauma.

TBD: Topic - Ancient Western Asian Seals
2026-09-23 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Penn Museum, 3230 South Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
TBD

Consider the Lobster: The Acholla Archaeological Project (Tunisia)
2026-09-24 16:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | NJ
Charles Eliot Norton Memorial Lectureship
Time and Location TBA

Beyond Shipwrecks: Currents and Connections
2026-09-24 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | NJ
Anna Marguerite McCann and Robert D. Taggart Lectureship in Underwater Archaeology
Location TBA

Teaching Ancient across Disciplines: Field Notes from the Harvard Art Museums
2026-09-28 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | NJ
Martha Sharp Joukowsky Lectureships
Location TBA
Reception before event, lecture starts at 5:30 PM

Teaching Ancient across Disciplines: Field Notes from the Harvard Art Museums
2026-09-29 17:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | NJ
Martha Sharp Joukowsky Lectureships
Time and Location TBA

Washington, D.C. Society George F. Bass Lecture with Dr. Nick Bartos
2026-09-30 16:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | NJ
The George F. Bass Lectures
Topic, Time, and Location TBA

Remembering Boudica: Monuments of a Barbarian Queen
2026-10-05 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | NJ

New Orleans Society Charles Eliot Norton Memorial Lecture with Dr. Alison Futrell
2026-10-06 16:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | NJ
Charles Eliot Norton Memorial Lectureship
Topic, Time, and Location TBA

Communal Water, Invisible Labor: Modeling the Social Impact of Pompeii's Street Fountains
2026-10-08 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Chicago) | NJ
Location TBA

Filling the gaps: Recent Archaeological Studies into the US Civil War
2026-10-09 16:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | NJ
Time and Location TBA

Beyond Shipwrecks: Engaging the Past Across the Generations
2026-10-15 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, the Pennsylvania State University, 201 Old Main, University Park, PA, 16802, United States

Marking the Flesh: Revealing the Tattoo Practices of the Nile Valley
2026-10-18 12:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | NJ

Sex in the Roman Arena
2026-10-18 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | NJ
Charles Eliot Norton Memorial Lectureship
Location TBA

Honolulu Society Martha Sharp Joukowsky Lecture with Dr. Anne Austin
2026-10-22 14:00 - 21:00 (Pacific/Honolulu) | NJ
Topic, Time, and Location TBA

Archaeology under the Volcano: Six Thousand Years of Human History on the Caribbean Island of Montserrat
2026-10-22 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Chicago) | NJ

Petra (Jordan): A Wonder of the World Between a Rock and a Hard Place
2026-10-24 11:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | NJ

Isis, Mistress of the Southern Lands: From Heliodorus’ Aethiopica to Meroe, an ancient kingdom on the Nile
2026-10-27 17:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | NJ
